Splint-clamp.



No. 673,96. Patented May I47 I90I.

' E. M. Lockwoon.

SPLINT CLAMP.

(No model.) (Application filed Aug. 10, 1900.)

STATES PATENT OEEICE.-

EDWARD M. LOCKWOOD, OF PHCENIXVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE AIIWAGA MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEW JERSEY.

4sPLINT-CLAIVIP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 673,916, dated May 14, 1901. Application led August l0, 1900. Serial No. 26,459. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD M. LOGKW OOD, of Phoenixville, Chester county, Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Splint- Clamps for Match-Making Purposes, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to splint-clamps for match-making purposes; and it consists of the improvements which are set forth in the following specilication and shown in the accompanying drawings.

It is essential to the proper operation of splint clamps, whether used in dippingframes or as members of a traveling splintcarrying belt or apron, that they should clamp the splints securely and preserve their parallelism without liability of breaking or bending them.

It is one of the objects of my invention to form a splint-clamp having opposed metallic clamping-faces provided with an elastic splint-holding cushion or surface of small area suificient for the purpose of effectively holding the splints and preventing lateral displacement without aecting the facility of receiving and discharging the splints.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a splint-clamp with such an elastic splintholding surface which shall be subjected to minimum wear and on which the elastic holding-surface may when desired be easily and quickly removed and replaced.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my improved splint-clamp. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional View of the same on the line a: of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a face view of one of the members of the clamp, and Fig. el is a longitudinal sectional view-of the same on the line y y of Fig. 3.

The clamp is composed of two members a h, preferably of metal, each having its face provided with a series of parallel transverse grooves c, adapted when the two members are clamped face to face to form a series of parallel transverse spaces to contain a row of splints in the usual manner. These grooves may be conveniently formed by simply corrugating the faces of the metallic members. The grooves c of one of the members (or of both, if desired) are provided with openings d, preferably at or about the middle.

A strip h, of felt, cloth, or other elastic mai terial, isplaced on the back of the member or members having the apertures CZ and is so disposed that i't will be exposed to a greater or less extentthrough the apertures, thus forming in each splint-hole composed of the opposing grooves c an elastic cushion e, which bears upon the splintf contained therein, as indicated in Fig. 2. The strip of felt or other material may be fastened in place in any convenient manner. For this purpose I prefer to employ a spring-strip of metal arranged overthe back of the strip hand held upon the back of the member to which it is applied by lugsz' thereon. This spring-strip g presses firmly upon the back of the elastic strip 7L and forces portions thereof through the apertures dto form the series of cushions e. The springstrip g may be readily applied or removed by sliding it longitudinally under the lugs t'.

The splint-clamp composed of the members a. h may be employed in any manner Well known in the art, the two members being clamped together and released to receive, hold, and release the splints.

The particular construction shown is especially adapted for use in a machine of the character shown in Letters Patent of Lockwood, No. 600,085, dated March l, 1898, in which an endless traveling chain composed of splint-clamps is employed and devices are used to open and close the clamp members at appropriate times. I do not, however, mean to limit my improved splint-clamp to such use.

It will be observed that with this construction the elastic holding-surface for the splints is aorded by the small exposed portions c of the elastic strip. These portions, which are sufficient for the purpose of securely holding the splints without liability of breaking them, are of small area, and therefore are less subject to wear and will not interfere with the introduction and removal of the splints.

Another advantage of this construction is that the elastic strip may be easily removed and replaced. For this purpose it is only necessary to slide the plate g from under the lugs i, remove and turn the elastic strip or apply a new one, and then replace the plate.

The details of construction shown may be varied without departing from my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

l. A splint-clamp member having its face formed with a series of openings and provided with a strip of elastic material extending longitudinally across said openings at the back so as to form a series of elastic contact-surfaces on the face of the clamp member.

2. A splint-clamp member having its face provided with a series of isolated elastic contact-surfaces formed of soft elastic material such as felt.

3. A splint-clamp member composed of a transversely-grooved metal strip and having said grooves provided for a portion of their length with a contact-surface formed of soft elastic material such as felt.

4. A splint-clamp member, composed of a transversely-grooved metal strip, and a strip of elastic material extending longitudinally over the back of said metal strip and exposed at intervals through openings in the face thereof.

5. A splint-clamp member having its face formed with openings, in combination with a strip of elastic material located at the back of said member and exposed through the openings in the face thereof, and a springstrip carried by the clamp member at the back of said elastic strip.

6. A splint-clamp member having its face formed with openings and provided at the back with lugs 7l, in combination with a strip of elastic material located at the back of said member and exposed through the openings in the face thereof, and a spring-strip carried by the clamp member at the back of said elastic strip and retained by said lugs t'.

'7. A splint-clamp composed of two metallic strips having their opposed surfaces formed of transverse corrugations, and a strip of elastic material arranged at the back of one of said metallic strips and exposed through openings in the corrugated surface thereof.

In testimony of which invention l have hereunto set my hand.

EDWARD M. LOGKWOOD.

Witnesses:

H. S. WILLIAMS, J. M. WILKINsoN. 

